“Amazing experience in Manu with SAS...
Visiting Amazonia may not be for everyone, but we were willing to rough it a bit and SAS delivered an experience that will stay with us for a lifetime.

We engaged SAS Travel in Cusco for an 8-day tour to Manu National Park in Peruvian Amazonia for December 2011. All arrangements were made online before our arrival. Our family party of four was joined in Cusco by a Canadian couple, SAS naturalist/guide Herbert, cook Renaldo, driver Guillermo, and in Atelaya by local boatman Milton and crewman Luiz. Herbert is an exceptionally knowledgeable naturalist guide; Renaldo is a first class wilderness cook. We felt quite safe in the hands of Guillermo, Milton, and Luiz on treacherous roads and rain swollen rivers. We would definitely use SAS again and would recommend them to friends.

It takes a full day and then some for the drive from Cusco to the Alto Madre de Dios River at Atelaya. The single lane, unpaved road is not for the faint of heart, especially in the rainy season, which was just beginning when we were there. Our driver was very conscientious, however, allowing us to enjoy the cloud forest clinging to vertical mountainsides without our being too concerned with the ruts, washouts, and streams rushing over the road. From Atelaya, the trip was on a long and narrow, locally built wooden riverboat, two seats abreast, with a canvas canopy to protect from rain and sun, a 60HP outboard in the stern and an extra in the bow (just in case). Overnight accommodations were in small bamboo or canvas-sided huts raised off the ground on stilts. Tasty and creative meals were prepared in a dining hut or, for lunches, on the boat. Because we were there for Christmas, Renaldo prepared a Christmas cake in a double boiler over a gas flame. Given that all of the food, water, and other supplies had to be carried on the boat with us, the quality and variety of the meals was excellent. After dinner, we the guests would play cards by lantern or candle light with Herbert, Renaldo, Milton, and Luiz. The camaraderie was welcoming, despite language limitations.

We chose the 8-day tour because we wanted to get into the Reserved Zone of the park. It was a good choice. We saw wildlife along the river, from jungle trails, from hides and blinds, and flying overhead. We saw giant river otters up close, black caiman, six species of monkey, and well over 100 different birds. At the Blanquillo clay lick we stopped counting macaws at 75. They were surrounded by hundreds of smaller parrots and parakeets. We spent the night at a blind overlooking a tapir lick, where individual mattresses were laid out for us, each with its own mosquito netting. We saw seven individual tapirs over the course of the night. Huge bats were flying so close to the blind that one of us was slapped in the face by a bat wing. There were fresh jaguar tracks on the trail. The day we entered the Reserved Zone, the park register at the ranger station showed that a small group had left that morning, leaving us as the only party in the Zone. To say we were pleased with our trip would be a huge understatement.

DAY 1.- CUSCO – BAMBU LODGE.- On the first day of our adventure into the Jungle of Manu, we will pick you up around 5:45 AM from your Hotels in Cusco, using the service of our private SAS transport. The first part of our excursion is will take us through the majestic Andean mountains, where we will take a quick opportunity to visit a really nice pleasant lake by the name of Huacarpay, a high Andean Lagoon that boasts heaps of flora and fauna typical of the Andean mountains. Afterwards, we will visit the town of Huancarani which contains the funeral towers of Ninamarca, a cemetery of the Lupaca Pre –Inca Culture, which we will visit briefly on our way to Paucartambo, which is known as the folkloric capital of the district of Cusco. In the face of modern times, this small colonial pueblo has managed to hold on to its rich tradition for centuries upon centuries. At mid-day we will arrive at the entrance of Manu National Park and access to one of the most protected natural areas in South America. We will continue on in our private transport down a dirt road and on through the thick fog from which this section of the forest takes it name. Eventually we will arrive at the home of the exotic Peruvian National Bird, the “Cock of the Rocks”, where it is known to gather with others of its kind for some sort of social gathering that seems reminiscent of a large courtship. You will find that this is quite an amazing spectacle complete with an impressive array of sounds and colours that can only be found in the jungle. For our first night, we will stay in the beautiful BAMBU Lodge, where we will arrive at approx. 5:00 p.m.

Day 2 BAMBU LODGE - GOLDEN VINE LODGE.- In the morning we will drive 1hours an a half (approximately) to Atalaya port, on the way we have the opportunity to see the coca plantation and orchids garden. When arrive to Atalaya port we take a motor boat for about 20 minute down stream (Alto Madre de Dios river) and finally we arrive to our Lodge, where we will have a lunch.

In the afternoon, we will visit the Machuwasy Lake, where we explore the lake in a traditional wooden boat, in this place we can see more colorfull birds, and some times it is possible to see Capybaras and Monkeys. Walks at night optional

Day 3 GOLDEN VINE LODGE – CUSCO.- Very early in the morning we will go on our way to the Parrots clay lick, where we will have the chance to see dozens of beautifully colored, tropical birds, that gather at this clay wall every morning to eat the nutrients out of the soil. The bright colored birds, with the lush jungle surrounding them, and the morning sunrays bursting through the canopy is a spectacular event that you won´t soon forget. We back to the Lodge for breakfast and get ready to leave our location in direction to Cusco we will pass through the beautiful Sacred Valley on the way, arriving in Cusco around 6:00 pm (Approximately).

WHAT IS INCLUDED.-

Qualified naturalist guide speaking English with telescope binoculars and own equipment.

SAS Travel provides Ecotourism at its best, working with people from the region to improve their lives, conserving the environment and preserving the rain forest ecosystem of Manu national park and the amazon for the future generations.

SAS Travel -Trusted, certified local travel specialists, Customize your trip to your exact needs We work with only the very best professional naturalist guides. Small groups, personal touch, live in the moment. Pay direct prices. No expensive overhead, Secure & easy booking –guaranteed. Once you are happy with the trip plan and cost, you can book your entire trip via SAS Travel´s secure payment platform. SAS Travel offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you are not fully satisfied with us, we’ll work with you to make it right.